Celtic’s imminent January signing Ki Sung-Yueng has told fans that he is “younger, faster and stronger” than Shunsuke Nakamura. The Korean midfielder says he’s based his game on the style of Steven Gerrard.
Sung-Yueng will sign from FC Seoul for a fee of around £2.4million in the transfer window after agreeing a pre-contract in the summer.
Since then he’s continued to star for his side and was voted Asia’s Young Player of the Year this week.
"There's big pressure on me arriving and playing for Celtic. People will be expecting me to be the new Nakamura, but I'm not. He was a wonderful player and really gifted technically, but that's not the style I play," Sung-Yueng told the Sun.
"I'm younger, faster and stronger. In South Korea, people compare me to Steven Gerrard, and I'll admit that's who I've based my game on.
"But Gerrard is one of the best and most recognised midfielders in the world. At the moment, I'm not, but that's what I want to become. He's the complete midfielder. He can score, he can pass and he never stops working. That's why he's the best in the world and that's what I want to be.”
But the youngster is lauded for his technical abilities in midfield and manager Tony Mowbray will be looking forward to the creative element which Sung-Yueng will bring to his side.
The ambitious 20-year-old added: "My other hero was Zinedine Zidane. I'm not trying to say I'm as good as these players - but one day I would like to be."
Last updated: 13 December 2009, 14:31
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